Laryngoscope

ABSTRACT

A laryngoscope which allows concurrent direct and indirect viewing of the larynx, especially when direct viewing is difficult or otherwise impossible. Such indirect viewing is permitted by the use of a prism or lens so arranged in the instrument that adequate working room is provided alongside the prism for direct viewing of the larynx and for insertion and removal of instruments, such as an endotracheal tube, and in which the prism also provides a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;bite block&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;. High intensity illumination is provided by a removable and replaceable source of battery power, conductors and a high intensity light source through the handle grip of the instrument.

nited States Patent 91 Huffman et a1.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 LARYNGOSCOPE [75] Inventors: John P. Huffman, Chicago,111.; Carl L. Foltz, Holiday, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Concept, Inc., St. Petersburg, Flat [22] Filed: June 29,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 157,852

8/1971 Moore ..128/l1 2/1972 Reick 128/16 Primary Examiner-Channing L.Pace AttorneyArthur H. Van Horn [57] ABSTRACT A laryngoscope whichallows concurrent direct and indirect viewing of the larynx, especiallywhen direct viewing is difficult or otherwise impossible. Such indirectviewing is permitted by the use of a prism or lens so arranged in theinstrument that adequate working room is provided alongside the prismfor direct viewing of the larynx and for insertion and removal ofinstruments, such as an endotracheal tube, and in which the prism alsoprovides a bite block. High intensity illumination is provided by aremovable and replaceable source of battery power, conductors and a highintensity light source through the handle grip of the instrument.

7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Y M: (is

11' ah.- MIL f PATfNTEnnuvlsms 377L514 SHEET 10? 2 FIG. I 2 9 8 35 Q 363 I I3 \w 39\ INVENTORS,

JOHN P. HUFFMAN BY CARL L.FOL TZ 3? 31 62% 94444 6 01 ATTORNEY.

Pmmmunm Ian $771,514

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORS. JOHN P. HUFFMAN CARL L. FOLTZ ATTORNEY.

LARYNGOSCOPE NATURE AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A laryngoscope oflightweight and simple construction suitable for inspecting the larynx,whether or not during anesthesia of the patient, by insertion of theblade of the instrument into the mouth and into the airway leading tothe larynx. The instrumentis provided with a removable high intensitylight source energized by a source of battery power removably carried inthe handle of the instrument, the light source also being removablyhoused in one form of the invention within a channel in the bladeportion of the instrument or within the handle portion of another formof the invention. The light source is controlled by a simple rotatableon-off, switch extending from the base of the handle. The instrument ineither form allows concurrent direct and indirect visual inspection ofthe larynx and by its structural characteristics provides, in addition,excellent illumination of the area to be examined coupled with ampleworking room. Indirect viewing is through a prism carried in the bladealongside a channel for direct viewing. The light emanating from a lightsource in one form of the invention is directed through its channel tothe area to be examined. While in another form of the invention, as willappear hereinafter, the light emanating on the light source is refractedthrough a second prism from which it is directed to the area to beexamined.

THE DRAWING FIG. I is a top plan view of a laryngoscope illustrating oneembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device in which part of the structureis shown in vertical section to more clearly illustrate the channel forreceiving a source of battery power and a source of high intensitylight.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view looking in the direction toward the left face of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a front view looking in the direction to the left toward theright side of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line 10l0 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view of a third embodiment of the invention as viewed inthe direction of the left hand side of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a side view partly in section of the third embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1313 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION The embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawingsinclude the preferred form shown in FIGS. 1 through 4; a secondembodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 10; and a third form shown in FIGS.11 through 13, which is a modified form incorporating combined featuresof the embodiments illustrated in the first two forms of the invention.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the instrument in its simplestform is formed with a handle or grip portion 1 for removably receivingand holding a battery and high intensity light source, and a bladeportion 2 integrally formed with the handle portion as by molding orcasting the grip and blade portion as a unitary structure from a light,tough thermoplastic material of the type represented by a polycarbonatesuch as acrylic nitride styrene. Such material is characterized by itsability to efficiently transmit and conduct light from a source directlyto an objective, and which further is capable of receiving a high degreeof polish on selected surfaces.

The handle portion 1 of the instrument is provided with a rearwardlyopening channel defined by the spaced apart side walls 3 and is alsopreferably open at its bottom end at 4 to removably receive a source ofbattery power, on-off switch and high intensity light source packageindicated at 5 which may be snapped or inserted into the channel foreasy removal. The upper end of the channel is closed laterally by a flatwall 6 which constitutes one of the surfaces of the formed-in prism 7 atthe juncture of the handle and blade rear portion. The refractingsurface 8 of the prism 7 may extend laterally across the full width ofthe blade at its rear end traversing not only the area behind the rearend of prism 9 found on the blade portion but also the rear end of thedirect viewing area 10 along the top of the blade.

If desired as an alternative, provision may be made along the bladeportion and, as is indicated in FIGS. 5 through 12, in the form of anopen ended channel defined by upright parallel walls and for theinsertion and removal of an elongate prism which is frictionally grippedby these walls against accidental displacement.

The blade portion 2 of the instrument is curved longitudinally forwardlyand downwardly of the handle or grip 1. The prism 9 formed on the bladeportion extends forwardly along the top of the blade and along onelateral side thereof for indirect viewing providing an open directviewing and working area 10 along the blade top surface. The downwardlycurved and forwardly extending upper surface of the blade may beserrated or formed with a series of prism-like transverse ribs orrefracting surfaces 11 as a means of preventing excessive loss of lighttransmission through the blade while permitting some radiation throughthe serrations in a direction forwardly of the external surface of theblade.

The battery and light source package 5 is preferably a self-containedunit which consists of an outer casing enclosing one or more batterycells, a high intensity light bulb l2 and an on-off switch 13, allelectrically connected together as a snap-in unit to be inserted andremovably held between the channel walls 3. It will be noted that thepackage casing terminates at its upper end in an annular flangesurrounding the bulb 12 adja cent the prism bottom wall 6 and when theswitch 13 is on and the light bulb l2 energized, light from the bulb istransmitted directly to and through the prism 7, refracted by theangular surface 8 and transmitted along the blade 2 toward its freeforward terminal portion.

The unitary structural and the optical characteristics of the materialfrom which the blade, handle and prism units are formed provide alightweight, inexpensive, effective and simple laryngoscope constructionwhereby indirect as well as direct illuminated viewing of the larynxareas to be explored and treated is readily available, coupled withample working space for insertion of instruments into these illuminatedareas.

By this invention, light from the source 12 is efficiently distributedor piped through the prism 7 and refracted through and along the blade 2to adequately illuminate the larynx and airway for viewing directlyand/or indirectly during treatment and exploration.

Referring now to FIGS. through 10 illustrating a second embodiment ofthe invention, the handle portion and blade portion are preferablyformed as a unitary structure as by molding, or the like, of materialsuch as that described in connection with FIGS. 1 4.

The handle portion of this embodiment comprises a cylindrical memberopen at its bottom end for removably receiving a package 16 consistingof a source of battery power, an on-of switch 17, electrical conductormeans 18 for supplying current from the battery source within thepackage to the lamp 19. The handle on its forward face is formed with anundulated grip portion as at 20.

The blade portion 21 is curved longitudinally forwardly and downwardlyof the handle portion and also has a substantially horizontal base wall22 extending forwardly from the handle and a pair of laterally spacedupright guide walls 23 and 24 forming between them and with the base, achannel opening upwardly and at both ends for removably receiving andsupporting a prism 26, the conductor 27 and light source 28therebetween.

It is to be noted, in this embodiment as well as in the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 4, that the prism 26 is located at one side along theblade. This provides a space 29 along the blade for direct viewing ofthe larnyx as well as working room along the blade for the introductionof surgical or exploratory instruments, if desirable.

The third form of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and13 embodies some of the structural features of both previously describedand illustrated forms but differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 through 4in that the prism 31 is removable from the channel defined by the walls32 and 33. These walls are, as in FIGS. 5 through 10, preferably formedintegral with the blade portion 34 of the instrument, as by molding,casting, or the like, from a lightweight, thermoplastic material of atype such as that described in connection with the form shown in FIGS. 1through 4.

Another structural difference is to form the handle portion 35 with alongitudinal channel opening rear wardly as at 36, and also open at itsbottom as at 37 and opening upwardly adjacent the bottom surface 38 ofthe prism 31 for easy snapin insertion and removal of the battery andlight package 39.

In each of the forms disclosed, the prism formed or supported on theblade portion has a flat polished rear end surface 40 facing the viewerand is provided with an angular flat polished surface 41 at its forwardend to provide proper refraction of about 30 in one direction, as at 42,and lateral refraction of about as at 43, thus permitting theilluminated viewing of the maximum area to be examined.

In the first form, as in FIGS. 1 through 4, it is to be noted that theintegrally formed lens or prism 7 will cffectively transmit light raysfrom the bulb 12 forwardly throughout the blade. The outer surface 8 maybe treated to enable it to reflect light rays forwardly through theblade and to prevent loss of light at the rear of the blade.

We claim:

1. A laryngoscope comprising, as a unitary structure, a body having aforwardly extending blade portion and a downwardly extending gripportion, said structure formed of a thermoplastic polycarbonate materialof the class represented by acrylic nitride styrene, and a prism formedalong a portion of one side edge of the blade portion and integraltherewith, said prism having a forward polished light refracting surfaceand a rear polished viewing surface.

2. A laryngoscope comprising, as a unitary structure, a body having aforwardly extending blade portion and a downwardly extending gripportion, said structure formed of a thermoplastic polycarbonate materialof the class represented by acrylic nitride styrene, and a prism formedalong a portion of one side edge of the blade portion and integraltherewith, said prism having a forward polished light refracting surfaceand a rear polished viewing surface, said grip portion having a channelfor removably receiving a source of relatively high intensity light.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said prism is offset fromthe opposite side edge of the blade to provide a direct viewing andworking access area forwardly along the surface of the blade.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the upper surface of theblade is formed forwardly of the prism with a transverse series of lightrefracting surfaces.

5. A laryngoscope comprising, as a unitary structure a body having aforwardly and downwardly extending blade portion and a downwardlyextending handle portion, said structure formed of thermoplasticpolycarbonate material of the class represented by acrylic nitridestyrene, said handle portion having a channel therein, a source ofrelatively high intensity light removably receivable in said channel, alight refracting element formed at the juncture of said handle and saidblade portions to direct light from the light source in the handle tosaid refracting element and thence forwardly along the blade portion tothe area being explored, said light refracting element comprisinginclined surface extending between said handle portion and said bladeportion such that said light refracting element forms an obtuse anglewith said handle portion and said blade portion.

6. In a laryngoscope, a blade portion, a handle portion, said bladehaving a channel formed along its upper surface and along one sidethereof, a prism supported in said channel for indirect viewing of thearea to be explored, a wall of said channel providing a direct viewingand work space along the blade upper surface, said handle portion havinga longitudinal channel therein, a light source package removablyinsertable in said longitudinal channel, said package including a sourceof electrical energy, alight source means directing a light beamforwardly along the blade and to the area to be explored by both directand indirect viewing.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which said lon gitudinal channelis bifurcated lengthwise to removably receive and frictionally retainsaid package in the handle portion.

1. A laryngoscope comprising, as a unitary structure, a body having aforwardly extending blade portion and a downwardly extending gripportion, said structure formed of a thermoplastic polycarbonate materialof the class represented by acrylic nitride styrene, and a prism formedalong a portion of one side edge of the blade portion and integraltherewith, said prism having a forward polished light refracting surfaceand a rear polished viewing surface.
 2. A laryngoscope comprising, as aunitary structure, a boDy having a forwardly extending blade portion anda downwardly extending grip portion, said structure formed of athermoplastic polycarbonate material of the class represented by acrylicnitride styrene, and a prism formed along a portion of one side edge ofthe blade portion and integral therewith, said prism having a forwardpolished light refracting surface and a rear polished viewing surface,said grip portion having a channel for removably receiving a source ofrelatively high intensity light.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 inwhich said prism is offset from the opposite side edge of the blade toprovide a direct viewing and working access area forwardly along thesurface of the blade.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1 in which theupper surface of the blade is formed forwardly of the prism with atransverse series of light refracting surfaces.
 5. A laryngoscopecomprising, as a unitary structure a body having a forwardly anddownwardly extending blade portion and a downwardly extending handleportion, said structure formed of thermoplastic polycarbonate materialof the class represented by acrylic nitride styrene, said handle portionhaving a channel therein, a source of relatively high intensity lightremovably receivable in said channel, a light refracting element formedat the juncture of said handle and said blade portions to direct lightfrom the light source in the handle to said refracting element andthence forwardly along the blade portion to the area being explored,said light refracting element comprising inclined surface extendingbetween said handle portion and said blade portion such that said lightrefracting element forms an obtuse angle with said handle portion andsaid blade portion.
 6. In a laryngoscope, a blade portion, a handleportion, said blade having a channel formed along its upper surface andalong one side thereof, a prism supported in said channel for indirectviewing of the area to be explored, a wall of said channel providing adirect viewing and work space along the blade upper surface, said handleportion having a longitudinal channel therein, a light source packageremovably insertable in said longitudinal channel, said packageincluding a source of electrical energy, a light source means directinga light beam forwardly along the blade and to the area to be explored byboth direct and indirect viewing.
 7. The invention defined in claim 6 inwhich said longitudinal channel is bifurcated lengthwise to removablyreceive and frictionally retain said package in the handle portion.